The Best Senior Dog Food (Reviews Of Top Chow For Older Pups)

Written by Estrella Bolton

This post will include several highlighted dog food formulas that might improve the overall health of your senior dog. There are several crucial health benefits that can be reaped from these high-quality dog food brands. Important vitamins and minerals are always used within these dog food selections to make sure that your older dog gets all of the nutrients and benefits that are available. 

Many of these products have exceptional ratings from existing pet owners. Some of these recipes can help with overall health, energy levels, and other similar concepts. Senior dogs can really benefit from specialized dog food brands that focus on enhancing the quality of life by utilizing important vitamins and minerals in dog food. 

Best Senior Dog Food of 2021

We are now going to shift our focus towards several of the highest-rated brands of dog food for senior dogs. These senior dog food formulas are best for older pups because of their health benefits. We have several great brands to highlight in addition to our choice for today’s best senior dog food, and we will include the top features for each brand as well. 

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

A lot of pet owners with senior dogs might be interested in considering our choice for today’s best senior dog food: the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior Formula. This impressive recipe includes ingredients such as deboned chicken (with some chicken meal) and brown rice for senior dogs. There are several crucial health benefits in this formula that should be considered by pet owners. The largest health benefit might be the enhanced level of energy that your senior dog could have after eating a diet of this recipe for a little while. The enhanced senior recipe of chicken and rice is designed to improve energy levels and stimulate senior dogs in many different ways.

Senior dogs might also notice improved mobility and joint function after eating this formula of dog food. Other possible benefits also include improved muscle mass and agility thanks to the protein sources present. There are several important vitamins and minerals includes in this recipe. A primary focus was placed on ensuring that senior dogs get all of the health benefits that are available to support their immune systems. 

The ingredients are filled with antioxidants and vitamins that will improve the overall health of your senior pooch. This dog food can be purchased for large and small dog breeds. This high-quality formula can be purchased in multiple package sizes. There are four different sizes between 3-Pounds and 30-Pounds that can be selected for purchase. 

There are a few other possible health benefits to discuss as well. Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids can help your dog’s skin and coat. Omega-3 and Omega-6 can also be a helpful addition for dogs with kidney disease. These crucial benefits are often overlooked. It is extremely important that you find dog food brands with these types of benefits because they can really help senior dogs on a daily basis.  For all of these reasons and more, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula gets our vote for today’s best senior dog food.

VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

There are several great health benefits and nutritional benefits for senior dogs in our second-place choice amongst today’s best senior dog foods: the VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food. About 78% of this formula utilizes quality proteins, such as high-quality beef, chicken & chicken meal, and fish and pork meals. The addition of glucosamine and chondroitin can greatly assist joint health in senior dogs. These benefits in particular can help senior dogs with mobility, energy, and comfort. 

A lot of pet owners will be glad to hear that there are multiple package size variations available to choose from. You can purchase a small 5-Pound or 15-Pound bag, or you can buy a much larger 40-Pound bag that will last for a much longer period of time. 

One of the nice things about this particular brand of dog food with a focus on protein is that there is no corn, wheat, or soy in the dry dog food formula. Many veterinarians will mention that these ingredients can create allergic reactions in certain types of dogs and cats. That is one of the main reasons that the VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food stays away from these risky ingredients. All in all, you can’t go wrong with this VICTOR blend, which is why it deserves recognition amongst today’s best senior dog foods.

Purina ONE Smart Blend Vibrant Maturity 7+ Adult Formula Dry Dog Food

The next product that we are going to take a look at is the Purina ONE Smart Blend Vibrant Maturity 7+ Adult Formula Dry Dog Food. This dry dog food utilizes a special formula that is best for older dogs – those pups 7 years old or more, as the name suggests. Some of the benefits include increased levels of energy and mental stimulation. You might also be able to supply your dog with crucial nutritional benefits such as quality protein that can improve their immune system and improve their overall health. 

A lot of pet owners will be glad to hear that this dry dog food formula never uses any artificial flavors. Real chicken is the primary ingredient providing protein, and several other ingredients help to provide the important health benefits that we previously discussed. There are currently two different package size options to consider for purchase. You can elect to purchase the smaller 16-Pound bag or alternatively purchase a larger 32-Pound bag. 

Blue Buffalo Home-Style Recipe Senior Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables

The Blue Buffalo Home-Style Recipe is an exceptionally popular canned dog food brand that is highly recommended for older dogs because of the extensive health benefits. This wet dog food brand has several natural ingredients including sweet potatoes as well as fruits and vegetables that could improve the overall health of your senior dog. In fact, quality proteins, fruit, and vegetables are among the most common ingredients in this particular formula. A traditional package includes 12 Cans of dog food with about one serving per can. 

Some customers have had success serving this wet-food for older dogs as a mix with other types of natural dry dog food. This isn’t specifically recommended, but it might be best for some picky dog eaters. This popular formula of dog food does not contain any corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

Iams ProActive Health Mature Adult Dry Dog Food

Several customers might be interested in purchasing this Iams ProActive Health Mature Adult Dry Dog Food for older dogs. There are currently three different packaging options available between 7-Pounds and 30-Pounds. This brand utilizes a chicken recipe for protein with whole grains and other important ingredients. No artificial flavors are used within this formula. Real, farm-raised chicken is the top ingredient in this formula, providing protein, while other key nutrients complement the recipe by providing benefits to bone health and the immune system in mature adult dogs. 

In addition to the protein, the mixture of fibers does play a role in improving the digestive health of older dogs. Additional antioxidants within the formula also improve general health and specifically the immune system. Several other vitamins and minerals contribute to positive health benefits in older pups. 

The Iams ProActive Health Mature Adult Dry Dog Food is best for all types of dog breeds. This formula should only be used with senior dogs because the formula specifically provides benefits for dogs in the later stages of their life. Alternative products may be available for dogs that are in their younger years.  

Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula

A lot of pet owners are going to be pleased with the positive benefits that might be available in the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula. This dog food brand is extremely popular, and older pups seem to love the taste of it. There are three different package sizes that you can purchase. The smallest variation includes a bag that weighs approximately 6-Pounds. Larger packaging options are also available at 18-Pounds and 34-Pounds. 

Omega-3 fatty acids are included in the formula to promote joint health. Other health benefits are also included within the formula to try and support the immune system in older pups. Real chicken is the top ingredient, but it is also complemented with quality protein, glucosamine, live probiotics, and natural probiotic fibers. All of these crucial additions play significant roles in various health categories for older dogs. This is one of the main reasons that so many veterinarians recommend this dog food brand for older pups.

It is highly recommended that you store this dry dog food formula in a cool and dry location. This dry food can be fed to dogs of all breeds and sizes. You should not feed this dry food to younger dogs because there are other beneficial formulas that might be a better choice. This formula is designed to stimulate the health in older pups that might be struggling in some health categories. 

The crunchy food design is extremely easy for older pups to chew and swallow. After your dog starts getting into the routine of eating this dog food, you might start noticing an increase in energy levels for your dog. This is a really good sign because it might indicate that all of the positive health nutrients are successfully being digested by your dog. 

Senior Dog Food FAQs

What Is Considered A Senior Dog?

The senior status of a dog can actually vary depending on breed, size, and weight. Generally speaking, small breed dogs will be considered senior status at 10 or 11 years old. A medium or large dog might move into the senior category around 8 or 9 years old. Some dogs might even be considered seniors as early as 7 years old, depending on their weight and breed, with small breed dogs showing a tendency to have more strut in their stride longer and large breeds aging a bit more quickly.

You should check with your dog’s veterinarian to gain a better understanding of your dog’s current status and diet requirements. They may be able to provide you with additional information to help you determine if it is best to start transitioning your dog to senior dog food formulas with appropriate balances of fiber, protein, and fat.

Do senior dogs need special food?

There are certainly some important health benefits that might be available for your dog by transferring them to a special senior dog food formula. These specialized formulas can include quality protein, vitamins, minerals, natural ingredients, and much more. Many of these ingredients are capable of promoting a healthy digestive system and immune system. Other ingredients might boost energy levels in older adult dogs and improve their joints and bones. In many cases it is suggested that you make sure to avoid grain-free dog food for senior dogs – particularly in the event that your dog has trouble with digestion. While grain-free dog food has gotten a lot of air time lately, it’s worth considering ditching the grain-free recipe and sticking with a formulation featuring wholesome grains such as white or brown rice – though sweet potato is often welcome as well.

What should I feed my senior dog?

There are several blend of high-quality chow that might be the best dog food for your senior pooch. You are going to want to focus on a reputable brand that uses natural ingredients with high-quality protein such as farm-raised chicken. You are probably going to want to avoid brands that use artificial flavors and preservatives in their formula, and there’s a good chance you’ll want to avoid grain-free recipes. While grain-free recipes might be passable for younger pups, the food will be easier to digest for older dogs with the inclusion of high-fiber grains in their diet.

Your vet should have better insight into the precise, balanced diet that works best for your pooch. Some senior pups will need a high-protein diet (with quality protein) to help them maintain muscle mass. Others may need a specially-formulated limited-ingredient diet to minimize disturbances to their digestive system. Chondroitin and glucosamine in an adult dog food diet can help alleviate issues with joints. Then, of course, there are other things that can creep up like kidney disease, gum disease, and other health issues that might impact the dietary needs of an adult dog on the waning side of their golden years. Taking your vet’s recommendations into account, the best situation would be the find a reputable brand with natural ingredients that can help to boost your dog’s general health across all categories. Remember that older dogs’ needs are different from young pooches.

You should always stick with brands that focus on the crucial health benefits that are available for older pups to take advantage of. Setting a routine diet for your older dog to eat their regular meals with the best dog food of this type can improve their daily comfort and health. 

How much food should I feed my senior dog?

It can be extremely tough to answer this question because the ideal diet for every dog is different. The best thing to do is to directly ask your dog’s veterinarian about food portions. This will probably depend on your dog’s health, weight, and age, all of which will affect their protein requirements. Some brands of dog food for older dogs offer a basic diet guideline that you can follow, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to make slight adjustments to their diet based on your personal experiences and your veterinarian’s advice. Remember that no matter what age, every dog will deserve a reward from time to time, and you should leave space for that.

For more, you can look at all of our recommendations for today’s best dog food, also for special diets such as best dog food with grains.